From a luxurious, beachfront condo on popular Playa Los Muertos in Zona Romantica, to a secluded, south-shore Villa (or an economical, long-term somewhere in between!), PVRPV has the perfect accommodation for you. Our Puerto Vallarta vacation properties are available in every size and budget to fit practically any need - from romantic hideaways to five-star villas that come complete with full staff to tend to your every whim. And, with all the fantastic restaurants in town, from French gourmet to authentic Mexican, you won't miss that boring buffet at the all-inclusive hotels at all, we promise!
A large number of our properties are located within easy walking distance of the PVRPV office as well. This means you can stop by on your way to breakfast or to the beach (or phone us from your property) and take advantage of our concierge services to set up restaurant reservations, boat tours, fishing, rental cars... you name it! You'll also see our concierge and staff in our uniform PVRPV shirts around town, doing guest check-ins and checkouts and various property management tasks for our homeowners. Feel free to stop us and ask a question. We'll take great care of you!
For more information on local happenings and great links to things to do in Puerto Vallarta and the entire bay area, read our PVRPV Blog. You'll find great links there and all the latest information and great insight (from our staff and guest writers) into local spots.
Temperatures & Wet Days
Puerto Vallarta is surrounded by jungle, and receives considerable rain. The rainy season is June to October, rainiest in September. December and January, the peak tourist season, are hot and sunny. Weather in Spring and Autumn includes moderate temperatures. While the rain can spoil a day at the beach, the storms can be quite beautiful, with rain seeming to march across the hills and lightning illuminating the sky.
Local Custom & Laws
Tourist card
When you arrive in Mexico you will require an Immigration document called a "Tourist card". You don't need to carry this document with you, but you will need to present when departing the country.
Legal drinking age
The legal Drinking age is 18 years. It is illegal to drink in public. Drug laws are harsh.
Siesta time
2-4pm, many businesses close during this time.
Tipping
Tipping is similar to Canada & the U.S. 15% - 20% in restaurants & bars.
Restaurants
You may wonder why it takes so long for someone to bring you the bill. In Mexico it is considered rude to bring the bill until you request it. To local culture it infers that the client is being asked to leave. So when you are ready to leave, you should ask for the bill.
Money
Exchange Rates
Usually best in the banks, slightly less in the Money Exchanges (Casas de Cambio) & businesses.
Travel Checks
You will need picture ID to exchange.
Bank Machines / Automatic Teller Machines
Are bilingual & easy to use, you can access money directly from your account or specified credit card. They usually give an exchange rate as good or better than the banks. Normal service charge is $1 - $5 depending on your bank and is accessible 24 hrs/day.
Coins
There are 100c (centavos) in one ($1) peso. Since some coins have such a low value you may not get exact change in some stores. They do not accept foreign coins.
Bank Hours
Average is 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. Saturdays 10am - 2 pm.
Water
Puerto Vallarta's water purification system has been certified safe by International standards since 1992. However we still recommend you use only purified bottled water (Agua Purificada) for drinking and making ice unless there is a purification system in the building you are staying in.
Ice Cubes
In restaurants & bars are made from purified water.
Fruits & Vegetables
Any fruits or vegetables not being cooked or peeled should be treated with MICRODYN (a bacteria killing treatment).
Washing fruits or vegetables
Soak for 20 minutes in a non-metal container in tap water with 1-4 drops of Microdyn for every liter of water
Rinse with purified water
All staff in villas & restaurants will follow this procedure.
Long Distance
Please check with the staff of your accommodations for long distance options. Usually the best option is to charge long distance calls to your calling cards. If there is a Vonage line in the property, you can see this in the amenities description.
You can purchase international long distance calling cards in most convenience stores (OXXO) and pharmacies (CMQ and Farmacia Guadalajara, open 24 hours).
You can also make international calls from most Internet cafes such as PVcafe.com, located at Olas Altas and Basilio Badillo, where they charge about $6 pesos per minute to call the US. Some places offer free long distance calls to the USA and Canada.
Transportation
Taxis
Local Taxis do not have meters; instead they have set rates per each zone. Within the downtown area the rate is usually about $5 USD or $50 pesos. All taxis carry official rate sheets, when in doubt ask to see it. Taxi drivers are notorious for not having change; when possible try to be prepared with exact change or small bills.
Several Taxi stands have telephones to order taxis for pick up:
La Jolla de Mismaloya- Sitio 11 222-8099, or call hotel and ask for taxi, 226-6688
Sitio 9- located on the South Side of Old Town, corner of Constitution and Francisco I. Madero, 223-2806
Dreams Resort-221-5368, hotel 221-5000
Bus
The green and blue buses from town to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlan (last cove on the bay accessible by car) runs every 10 mins. The bus stop in town originates at the corner of Constitución and Basilio Badillo, cost $8.00 pesos. Boca de Tomatlan is the end of the line, the bus turns around and heads back to Puerto Vallarta . From Boca de Tomatlan you can pay for a water taxi to take you to any of the beaches on the south shore only accessible by boat: Las Animas, Quimixto and Yelapa.
Car Rental
You must be over 21 years of age and have a credit card to rent a car. Rate start at about $70 USD / day.
Airport Taxis
The Airport Taxi's are a separate system from the local Yellow Taxis and are only allowed to pick up passengers from the airport or Marina which are Federal Zones.
Private Transfer
| COSTO DE RECEPCIÓN EN EL AEROPUERTO | Sedan max 3 passengers. Small trunk | Mini Van max 6 passengers | Van max 9 passengers | Van with Ramp max 6 passengers | Suburban max 6 passengers. Includes 6 pack of beer | Mercedes Sprinter 12 passengers | Mercedes Sprinter 17 passengers* |
| Zone I | $40 USD | $50 USD | $70 USD | $70 USD | $90 USD | $120 USD | $190 USD |
| Zone II | $40 USD | $60 USD | $80 USD | $70 USD | $90 USD | $120 USD | $200 USD |
| Zone III | $40 USD | $60 USD | $90 USD | $70 USD | $100 USD | $150 USD | $200 USD |
| Zone IV | $55 USD | $70 USD | $100 USD | $80 USD | $120 USD | $190 USD | $225 USD |
| Zone V | $55 USD | $70 USD | $100 USD | $80 USD | $120 USD | $190 USD | $225 USD |
| Zone VI | $120 USD | $140 USD | $160 USD | $140 USD | $180 USD | $225 USD | $250 USD |
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ZONE I = Marina Vallarta, Marriott Westin, Club Regina Mayan Palace, Bay View Grand, Velas Vallarta Melia Caracoles Vamar ZONE II = Hotelzone & Downtown, Villa del Palmar Now Ambar Secrets, Sunset Plaza, Fiesta Americana, Hyatt Hilton Sheraton Sunscape ZONE III = Southside & Conchas Chinas, Playa Los Arcos Casa 3 Vidas Pinnacle, The Park Quinta Maria Cortez, One Beach Str. Molino de Agua Hyatt Ziva Conchas Chinas ZONE IV = Mismaloya, Punta Negra Barcelo, Costa Sur Girasoles, Fiesta Americana Grand, Garza Blanca Moussai Playa Fiesta ZONE V = Nuevo Vallarta, Vidanta Paradise Village Flamingos, Riu, Dreams Villa Magna, Grand Velas Hard Rock Occidental Marival ZONE VI = Punta Mita & Sayulita, St Regis Palladium, Four Seasons Rancho Banderas, Iberostar, La Tranquila |
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Rates are per vehicle and subject to change. All clients are received with a welcome sign and a courtesy bottle of water. Rates are per one way, round trip would be twice the one way. Please be aware that we have a limited number of vehicles and reservations in advance are required: if a category of vehicle is not available anymore we might be able case there will be a higher rate. The rate as confirmed at the confirmation will be respected at all times, in case we decide to send you a bigger vehicle. Obviously this is only if you don ́t change the amount of people and the destination. We also offer transfers to Bucerias, La Cruz, San Pancho, Manzanillo, Careyes, Mayto, Guadalajara and more! Just let us know your final destination by email and we will provide you the rate. We count on one (standard size) suitcase per person: if luggage does not fit in our vehicles and we have to send a bigger vehicle, there will be an extra charge. For all arrivals after 11pm and all departures before 7am there is a surcharge of 10USD per vehicle which need to be paid in cash on the day of the service. * not all locations can be reached by the large Sprinter due to the size of the vehicle, please inform first if your location can be reached. We might have to send 2 Vans instead for this reason. |
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There are additional possibilities:
- 30 minutes stop for groceries: 25 USD
- 60 minutes stop for groceries: 45USD
- Soft drinks or beer: 2 USD each or 10 USD for a 6-pack
- a bottle of champagne with cups: 50 USD
- Baby Seat/ Carseat/ Boosters: Free of charge, upon availability
- Looking for anything else? let us know and we will provide you the rate
If you would like us to book it for you, please reply to this email to confirm.
Please contact PVRPV today to obtain further information on our Vacation Services contracts and a long list of owner testimonials.
For more information Contact Us!
Grocery Stores / Shopping
There are many large supermarkets in the Vallarta area:
Tienda Ley
Located at the begining of the Malecon close to Hidalgo Park.
Agro Gourmet
Open Monday - Saturday, 9:30 am - 6pm . Basillio Badillo #22
MEGA Comercial Mexicana
Located at the beginning of the North Hotel zone by the Sheraton Hotel next to Office Max.
Soriana
With three locations in Plaza Caracol, near the Marina Pier and Pitillal by the Cinepolis movie theatre.
Sam's Club
You can get a free day pass to shop if you are from out of town, known for their selection of USDA beef. You will need to show ID to prove your out of town address.
Walmart
The fine art of Bargaining is only for beach & street vendors or in the flea Markets. The recommended system is to start at about 60% of the asking price and go from there. Boutiques & stores frown on bargaining, but will often accept diplomatic requests for discounts (especially for cash purchases).
Church
The Cathedral in the center of town is a Catholic Church "Our Lady of Guadalupe". Services are:
- Monday - Friday: 7:30 am, 12 noon, 7pm & 8pm
- Saturday: 7:30 am, 12 noon, 7:30pm & 8:30pm
- Sunday: 6:30am, 8am, 10am, 12 noon, 6:30pm, 7:30pm & 8:30pm
Dress appropriately. There is also a Baptist Church , Kingdom Hall & other denominations.
Departure Information
The airlines request that you be at the airport 2 hrs. ahead of departure time for international flights & 1 hour for national flights.
- Most airlines have the departure tax prepaid
- You will need to present your tourist card when you depart
- Customs declarations; U.S. citizens $350 USD each time you leave the country for over 7 days, Canadian citizens $500 Canadian each time you leave the country for over 7 days.
- Liquor: 1.5 liters of Alcohol & 200 cigarettes per adult
- It is illegal to take back any plants, produce or products made from an endangered species (Iguana, Sea turtle, Boa, Python, Anaconda snakes & Armadillos)